2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog

(Bachelor of Science)

Environmental Policy and Planning is an environmental policy, planning, and design program for both cities and the natural environment. It is designed to prepare students for a variety of challenging professions involving the planning, analysis, design, and administration of policies and programs dealing with the natural and human-made environment. Students who major in Environmental Policy and Planning consider environmental challenges through the lens of law, politics, and planning. The program provides students with a solid background in environmental policy, environmental law, environmental planning, environmental design, and an introduction to sustainable development and community-based environmental protection. It also prepares students for graduate work in environmental studies, public policy, public administration, law, community planning, and related fields.

Environmental Policy and Planning majors engage in both theoretical and applied study in their courses, and have flexibility to choose from two emphases. Students may serve as interns in planning agencies in local governments, work in teams with a professor to conduct community planning and design, work with environmental organizations, or develop programs for sustainable communities. The two program emphases from which majors can choose are Environmental Policy and Planning (managing resources in the built and natural environment), and the accelerated Environmental Policy program combining an undergraduate and master's degree. We also have a minor, which pairs well with many majors on campus.

The major in Environmental Policy and Planning consists of two sets of requirements: 1) required supporting and analytical courses and 2) upper-level courses within an area of emphasis. Students should discuss these Emphases with their program advisor when establishing an academic plan.

The Environmental Policy and Planning emphasis focuses on environmental law, policy, and sustainable land use and planning methods for human settlements and our surrounding environments in an era of climate change and resource scarcity. This emphasis teaches you skills in designing and planning community redevelopment; protection and management of land and natural resources (e.g., cities, farmland, forests, etc.) at the community and regional levels, techniques in geographic information systems, and how to adapt to the accelerating human influences on our environment. You learn about environmental policy development and implementation; methods of policy analysis; and political, administrative, legal, and economic issues in environmental policy.

This emphasis helps prepare students for careers and graduate work in environmental planning; community and regional planning; community-based environmental management; public, nonprofit, and private market sectors as environmental policy analysts; environmental management; government relations; and related careers; as well as for graduate work in environmental studies, public policy, public affairs, administration, and law.

The accelerated Environmental Policy major is an integrated undergraduate and master's program where you take the required courses of the Environmental Policy and Planning major and then take master's level courses focusing more on environmental law, policy, and administration, thus achieving an undergraduate and graduate degree in five years.

A minor in Environmental Policy and Planning is similar to the major in developing knowledge and skills in planning, decision-making, public policy, environmental design, political and economic processes, as well as the analytic capacities to participate in decision-making. An interdisciplinary minor in Environmental Policy and Planning is a good choice for students who wish to major in Environmental Science, Public Administration, Political Science, Economics, Urban Studies, Democracy and Justice Studies, or a number of other programs.

Considering a Double Major or Certificate?

Some students may want to consider a double major, combining Environmental Policy and Planning with Public Administration. Other popular second majors include Political Science, Urban Studies, and Economics. A double major or a minor in one of these fields complements the Environmental Policy and Planning curriculum, and makes students stronger candidates when seeking careers or entry into graduate programs. 

A certificate in Environmental Sustainability and Business fits well with a major or minor in Environmental Policy and Planning. Likewise, students interested in working in an non-governmental or non-profit organization might explore the certificate in Nonprofit Management.  Students should contact a faculty adviser early in their academic careers for advice on these options.

Students may study abroad or at other campuses in the United States through UW-Green Bay’s participation in international exchange programs and National Student Exchange. Travel courses are another option for obtaining academic credits and completing requirements. For more information, contact the Office of International Education at (920) 465-2190 or see https://www.uwgb.edu/international-education/.